Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Griffins

Jared Coreau named CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month

Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Griffins
Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Griffins

 

By @MichaelCaples –

The Grand Rapids Griffins are surging through the AHL standings, and a lot of that has to do with the play of goaltender Jared Coreau.

Coreau was named the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month today, after the Northern Michigan alum racked up 9-2-0 record with a 1.92 goals-against average and .938 save percentage during December.

Over the course of the month, the Griffins played to a 10-2-0-0 record, their best winning percentage in the franchise’s 20 years of operation. Their franchise-record winning streak of 15 games came to an end on Dec. 27.

Coreau is 15-4-1 in 21 appearances with Grand Rapids this season, ranking sixth in the AHL for goals-against average (2.11) and third in the league for save percentage (.932).

Full release from the Griffins below:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The American Hockey League on Monday announced that Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau has been selected as the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December.

Coreau becomes the fifth Griffins goaltender to earn monthly league (AHL/IHL) accolades and the first since Jimmy Howard in December 2007.

Coreau made 11 starts in December and finished with a 9-2-0 record along with a 1.92 goals against average and a .938 save percentage during a historic month for the Griffins. Grand Rapids extended its franchise-record winning streak to 15 games in December before a 3-2 defeat at Lake Erie on Dec. 27 halted the run. The Griffins concluded December with a 10-2-0-0 (0.833) record, marking the best December winning percentage in the franchise’s 20 years.

Coreau began the month with a 31-save effort vs. Chicago on Dec. 4, backstopping the Griffins to a 3-1 victory. He made 23 stops vs. Milwaukee on Dec. 9, and turned aside 38 of 39 shots at Rockford on Dec. 12, his fourth consecutive game allowing one goal or fewer. After making 29 saves in a 4-3 overtime win at Iowa on Dec. 13, Coreau matched a career high with 47 stops in a 3-2 victory at Lake Erie on Dec. 16. Coreau made 26 saves at Lake Erie on Dec. 26 for his 11th consecutive winning decision – and the Griffins’ 15th win in a row – then bounced back from a pair of road losses by registering a 23-save shutout of Milwaukee on Dec. 31. Coreau’s 11 straight victories set a personal best and left him just one shy of tying Jimmy Howard’s record for a Grand Rapids goalie.

In his third professional season, Coreau is 15-4-1 in 21 appearances for Grand Rapids in 2015-16, ranking sixth in the AHL with a 2.11 goals-against average and third with a .932 save percentage. Coreau is also one off the league lead in wins and ranks fourth in shots faced (643) and saves (599). A 24-year-old native of Perth, Ont., Coreau originally signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings in April 2013 after a three-year collegiate career at Northern Michigan University.

In recognition of his achievement, Coreau will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Griffins home game.

Having won 17 of their last 19 contests, the Griffins will complete a two-game road trip in Manitoba when they face the Moose on Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST.